7.2 Square Miles: The Data Behind Detroit’s Resurgence

A new report produced by a consortium of Detroit-based organizations uses a wide range of analytics to document the revitalization of the 7.2 square miles that comprise the city’s Greater Downtown area. Drawn from local surveys and data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, among other sources, the report details population and tourism figures, business distribution, and demographics on income, housing, ethnicity, and education.

Some of the findings hint at the dynamics behind Detroit’s resurgence. Residents in the downtown area are not only more educated than in the rest of the city, they surpass education levels for the state of Michigan and for the country as a whole. In fact, 42 percent are college-educated, compared with 31 percent across the U.S. Detroit’s Greater Downtown is also more racially diverse than the rest of the city, and has a growing preponderance of pedestrians and cyclists. The report offers a fascinating look at how struggling urban areas can replicate the success of cities like New York, while at the same time highlighting characteristics of Detroit that make its renaissance unique.

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